Paulus geneest de man die niet kon lopen 1582

Philips Galle created this engraving, “Paulus geneest de man die niet kon lopen,” which translates to “Paul heals the man who could not walk,” sometime before his death in 1612. During this period, the Protestant Reformation had spread across Europe, and the genre of religious art became a site of ideological struggle. Galle's work reflects this context, as it presents a Biblical scene through the lens of his own cultural and religious background. It's easy to see the emotional depth of the scene, the way the crowd presses in, hope and desperation etched on their faces. What does it mean to be healed, to be made whole, and who gets to decide what wholeness looks like? The engraving asks us to consider these questions, inviting us to reflect on our own experiences with faith, healing, and the power dynamics inherent in such encounters. It is about the intersection of faith, power, and the human desire for healing.